Trigger mechanism.



PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

J. D. RUSS. TRIGGER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. 1904.

Ill 4 ma PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

J. D. RUSS. TRIGGER MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED SDI-30.10, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

V [lorfley UNITED STATES .IATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. RUSS, OF SPENCER, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE TWELFTHS TOFREDERICK F.

MoINTOSI-I AND TVVO-TWELFTHS TO AUGUSTUS J. LYONS, OF SPENOER WESTVIRGINIA,

TRIGGER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedDecember 10, 1904.$eria1 No. 236,322-

Patented May 29, 1906.

' do hereby declare the following to be a full,

provides for giving the trigger member a setclear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly todouble-barrel breakdown shotguns.

' The objects of the invention are to provide a single-trigger mechanismfor releasing the hammers of both barrels of such an which shall be ofgreat simplicity and occu y an extremely small space in the lock oft egun, 'so as to require minimum cutting away and consequent weakening ofthe stock, and Which will absolutely prevent doubling" that is, firingboth barrels when itis desired to fire but one.

The invention relates to a trigger mechanism in which a movable triggermember connects a single finger-trigger piece and the hammers of thegun, such trigger members ctuating the hammers, preferably, thro i ghThis trigger member is ar-' suitable sears. ranged to occupy releasingpositions with reference-to the sears, and therefore to the. hammers,successively, and means is provided for giving the trigger member arelease-positioning movement from first to secting movement to firstreleasing position again. At each releasing position the fingertriggeriece, which is an embodiment of single manua actuating means, moves thetrigger member to bring about hammer release whether such release iseffected by the direct engagement of the trigger member with the searsor through the actuation of an intermediate part or parts by the triggermember, as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 255,756. Bya releasing position I do not necessarily indicate that the triggermember is while in such position contiguous to one of the sears, butmerely that the trigger member is in such position as to be actuated bythe next voluntary fingerpressure upon the finger-trigger piece toeffect release of one 'of the scars. By single I do not refer to thenumber of elements that may be disposed between the finger and thetrigger member, but indicate merely that one mechanism brings aboutrelease of both hammers. I have illustrated the trigger member asconstituting a slide; but it will be apparent that the particular formor mounting of the trigger member'is not essential to my invention, asthis element might be ar ranged for reciprocatory movement in thelock-chamber in a variety of ways. "For temporarily retaining thetrigger member in initial position I provide an automatic detentdistinct from the finger-trigger piece and the sears, which ispreferably disengaged from the slide by the movement of this memberitself during the first hammer-releasing movement.- The release of thesears is, by preference, brought about by the elevation of the triggermember at releasing positions by the finger-trigger piece, and toprevent the trigger member from passing from first to second releasingpositions immediately upon the first discharge, in which event theinvoluntary pull upon the finger-trigger piece would prematurelydischarge the other barrel, I provide a stop that is operative duringthe first elevation of the trigger member to prevent the latter fromassuming second releasing position until after the involuntary pull hasoccurred. I prefer to arrange the parts so that the trigger member isfree to resume its releaseositioning movement on being allowed to faIlto its normal plane, the stop being so proportioned as to retain thetrigger member until after said involuntary pull has taken place.

This stop device I ave elected to mount upon the detent already alludedto, though such arrangement need not necessarily be adhered to. Twofeatures of my invention reside in so constructing the parts that thedisengagement of the detent from the trigger member and the escape ofthe latter from the stop may be timed to suit the user of the gun.

Constitutin another feature of the invention is means or reventing theengagement will pass immediately to the second releasing positionwithout releasing the first hammer.

The constructions embodying the invention as outlined will be describedin detail in the following specification and illustrated in thedrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the interior of thelock of a gun of the type described with my improved trigger mechanismapplied thereto, showing the parts in the second releasing position.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinalsection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective viewof the trigger-setting lever. Figs. 6 and 6 are details of the right andleft hammer-sears, respectively. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thetrigger mechanism corresponding to Fig. 1, except that the parts areshown in the initial releasing position. Fig. 8 is an elevation-of theopposite side of the mechanism, showing in full lines the parts in theintermediate arrested position and in dotted lines the parts in thefirst released position; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation corresponding toFigs. 1 and 7 with the parts in the second released position.

Referring to the drawings, S and S are the right and left hammer-sears,respectively, and H one of the hammers, the latter being indicated inFig. 1. As the construction of the hammers and the relative arrangementof the hammers and sears are familiar in the ordinary type ofdouble-trigger guns, it will be necessary only to say that the hammersare released upon the elevation of the rear ends of the sears and theconsequent depression of the forward ends which engage with the hammers.

B is the ordinary reciprocating lockingbolt, which looks the barrels tothe stock and is operated by thumb-piece U. As the construction andoperationof these parts are so well known in the art, detailedillustration is deemed unnecessary.

B is a block secured to or formed integral with the trigger-plate Pbetween the hammer-sears S S and is shown as being of the eneral form ofthe block, to which the'two ger-trigger pieces are pivoted in theordinary double-trigger guns. This block is provided with two parallellongitudinal slots 1) and p, in one of which, preferably the left, ispivoted on transverse pin p the single finger-trigger piece F, whoserear portion f is in consequence adapted to have an oscillatory movementin a vertical plane through slot in-the trigger-plate. I

'T e more essential parts of the present invention are comprised intrigger member M, trigger-setting lever C, and trigger-member detent D.The hammer-sears are arranged in the well-known -manner, beinghorizontally pivoted in parallel at the remote sides of thelock-chamber. Their rear ends are provided with inward-projectingengaging lugs s and s, which are substantially in transverse alinement.In these the rear face of lug sthe lug of the right searis inclinedupward and forward, and the forward face of lug s downward and forwardinclined, both for a purposeto be later specified.

Movable trigger member M is in the form of. a slide mounted forlongitudinal reciprocatory motion on the trigger-plate between thehammer-sears and having a reduced knife-like forward portion M, thatpasses freely through the right slot 1) in block B. The motion of thetrigger member is limited at one extreme by the forward wall of thelock-chamber and at the rear extreme by trunnion-block T, to be fullydescribed hereinafter. The portion of the trigger member that passesthrough slot 10 in block B is provided with a transverse slot M that iselongated longitudinally of the trigger member and receives pin 19 thewhole forming a sort of slotted bearing for permitting limitedoscillation of the trigger member in a vertical plane, the bottom of theforward portion of the trigger member being slightly curved, so as topermit rocking upon the trigger-plate.

VVhilethe trigger member may be constructed in any sultable manner tobring about successive release of the hammers, I regard as veryefficient an arrangement in which the rear body portion of the triggermember is provided with individual hammer-releasing devices in.the formof lugs R and R, projecting laterally from the right and left sides ofthe trigger member, respectively, and adapted to release the hammers byengaging with the inturned ends sand 8, respectively, of thehammer-sears. Lug R is positioned farther forward on the trigger memberthan lug R, so that during the-movement of the trigger member to therear it will be brought into releasing position with reference to searend 8 after lug R has occupied a similar position with reference to end8. In the present embodiment of .this invention, contemplating the useof upward-acting triggersears, the releasing positions of thehammerreleasing lugs will be immediately beneath the sear ends, and tothis end the lugs are positioned to reciprocate in a plane below that ofthe sear ends, and means are provided, in the shape of finger-triggeriece F, whose rear portion f underlies the ody portion of the triggermember for tilting the latter upward about its slotted bearing at eachreleasing position, or at one, to bring the trigger member andhammer-releasing devices into released position with the rear ends of{he sears elevated by the hammer-releasing lhe front face of lug R isinclined upward and forward, so as to be practically parallel with therear face of sear end 8, and the rear face of lug R is inclined downwardand forto W of the lock-chamber.

ward, so as to'bear a similar relation to the front face of the sear end8, the objects of these constructions to be explained later.-

While it will be obvious that the arrangement of trigger-setting lever Cmay be in any ,manner efliclently to draw the trigger member forward, itis preferred to pivot thelever in an upright position intermediate itsends to a block C, screwed into the forward wall The depending end 0 ofthe lever is reduced in width so as to be little wider than the reducedportion M of the trigger member, and is formed in hook shape to engageremovably with an upwardfacing hook c, constituted in the forward end ofsuch portion M. The setting-lever may be operated in any suitable mannerwithout departing from the spirit of my invention; but I prefer that itbe actuated by the rear portion of locking-bolt B, which, on

unlocking the breech of the gunfor cocking the hammers and permittingthe insertion of the shells, as is so commonly understoodforces theupper end of the setting-lever rearward and the lower end, inconsequence, forward. Since, as is well known, the lockingbolt inbreakdown guns must be retracted rior to the cocking of the hammers, itwill be obvious that means is provided for setting the trigger mechanismsimultaneously with the cocking of the hammers, though the triggermechanism may be set without cooking the hammers by simply retractingthe lockingbolt without breakin the gun. lever is provided wit means forpreventing "undue movement in either directlon, which might efiectdisengagement of the lever with the trigger member, and, as illustrated,this means is embodied in a transverse pin 0 pass- 0 ing betweenupright'ears c on the upper end of the lever and arranged to engage atthe limits of motion with the ends of a curved depression c on the upperface of block 0 Trigger-member detent D is, in the form of my inventionillustrated, a lever pivoted to trunnion-block T and disposedlongitudinally of the path of normal reciprocatory to the path ofrectilinear movement.

be given an angular sha e, so as to lie adjacent the top and rear si eof trunnion-block T, the horizontal arm d receiving the pivot t. Thefree forward end d of this arm constitutes the detent proper and isarranged to fall 6 5 behind rearward facing shoulder men the top endagainst the rear face of block B. .be readily apparent that during theforward The settingofthe body portion of the trigger member when thelatter has been advanced by the trigger-settingmechanism in the forwardor setting direction to theinitial position with lug R in releasingposition with reference to releasing sear end s. For causing theautomatic engagement of the detent with shoulderma spiral spring (1 islocated in a horizontal rearward-opening spring-barrel (1 formed intrunnion-block T, so that the outer end of the helix bears against thedepending arm d of the detent and constantly tends to force the detentend (1 downward.

The trigger-setting mechanism and the means for retaining the triggermember in its set position having been discussed, the means foractuating the trigger member in the re.- verse direction will now beconsidered. Formed in' the body portion M of the trigger member is ahorizontal spring-barrel m, opening forward through shoulder m formed atthe junction of reduced portion M and body ortion M of the triggermember, and in this arrel is housed a coiled spring m against whichbears apiston m, that abuts at itslothelri setting movement of thetrigger member spring m will be compressed and will store up sufliclentpower to urge the trigger member to thelimit of movement in the oppositedirection. l

The parts for efiecting the escape of the trigger member from itsinitial releasing posi-.

tion (shown in Fig. 7) rearward will noW be .consicleredx This movementof the trigger member I have termed the release-joositioning movement,as it carries the trigger member from the first to the secondreleasingposition. In rear of shoulder m, preferably at the extreme rearend, the trigger member is provided with an uplward-extending projectionm which on t e raising of the tri ger member by the finger-trigger pieceto e ect hammer release contacts with arm (1 in rear of detent end (1and lifts the latter out of'eng'agement with shoulder m. In ordertoadjust the height at which the projection m removes the detent fromengagement the projection is caused to contact With an adjustable pin (1in the form of a screw, passing down through arm (1 ofthe detent.

A second adjustable pin or screw (1", extend- I to ing downward from arm(I, is provided for ar- I resting the movement of the trigger memberafter escaping from the initial releasing position, such stoppage beingeffected by projec-. tion m contacting with the pin while the triggermember is still in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 8. This pin 0iand projection m are of such length that when the trigger member isallowed to drop upon the triggerplate and resume its normal movement theprojection will pass under the pin, the moment at which this secondescape is effected being timed by the adjustment of pin d. In front ofprojection m a recess m is provided on the top of the trigger member toreceive pin d and lock the trigger member against forward movement whenthe latter is elevated for hammer release at the second releasingposition, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

The operation of the parts described will now be considered in detail.While the successive positioning of the releasing devices is shown asbeing made possible by arranging the ends of the hammer-searssubstantially in transverse alinement, while the lugs R R are out oftransverse alinement, it is obvious that practically the same result maybe obtained by positioning the hammer-sear ends out of transversealinement and the lugs R R in transverse alinement, or by giving thelugs any relative arrangement that would cause the hammer-releasing lugsto occupy releasing positions successively. On the actuation of thelocking-bolt B the setting-lever forces the trigger member forward toits initial releasing position with lug R immediately beneath sear end 8and lug R below, but in advance of. sear end 8'. It may be observed thatby describing the lug R as in advance of sear end 8 I do not refer tothe relative positions of these parts in the lock-chamber, but merely tothe fact that the lug is so disposed as to be in position to be broughtunder sear end 8 by the driving-spring. In fact while I have shown thetrigger member as moving rearward in the lock-chamber forrelease-positioning and forward for setting I do not consider itnecessary to my invention that this arrangement shall be followed. Inthis position it is retained by the automatic action of the detent. Upon now applying pressure to the finger-trigger piece the trigger memberis tilted, sear S is elevated with consequent hammer-release, andprojection m contacting with arm (1 of the detent between its detent endand pivot, allows the trigger member to escape and commence itsreleasepositioning movement. The quickness with which projection mremoves the detent from engagement is, of course, made possible by thefact that projection m is farther from the center of verticaloscillation of the trigger member than shoulder m. As soon as thetrigger member escapes lug R passes from under sear end 8, allowing thelatter to fall and removing the pressure of the sear from the finger,this being a feature of great importance, since it removes one factortending to bring about double firing. The finger being still upon thefinger-trigger piece and the trigger member elevated, the latter isstopped in the intermediate arrested position, with lug R still inadvance of sear end 8, by the engagement of projection m and pin (1 Bythus preventing the trigger member from passing immediately from theinitial to the second releasing position doubling is again guardedagainst. Even in case of accident, such as breaking of parts, should thetrigger member escape to the rear prematurely while still in an elevatedposition the inclination of the forward face of the sear end 8' and ofthe rear face of the lug R would, in event of engagement of these faces,tend to bring about the depression of the sear rather than to elevatethe latter. On removing the finger-pressure the trigger member resumesits releasepositioning movement on the trigger-plate, passing under pin(1, and is arrested by trunnion-block T in the second releasingposition, with lug R immediately beneath sear end 8. Pressure applied tothe finger-trigger piece will now move the trigger member again out ofreleasing position to-released position,when, as pointed out, pin d willprevent forward movement of the slide under the influence of recoil.

I shall now describe the means for preventing the release of the firsthammer. Passing upward through the trigger member, with its upper endnormally below and behind the shoulder m, is a pin E, whose lower endprojects below the bottom of the trigger member and stands in a forwardand upward inclined groove 6, formed in a slide E, that has longitudinalmovement in slot E in the trigger-plate and projects sufficiently belowthis plate to give a finger-grip. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, pin E isslightly inclined upward and rearward, so as to avoid binding ppon thewalls of the passage in which it reciprocates. It will be readilyunderstood that if at the initial releasing position when detent end (1of the detent is in engagement with shoulder m on the trigger member theslide E is moved rearward pin E will be elevated so as to raise thedetent clear of the shoulder. Since the trigger member is not elevated,it is free to resume its normal rearward movement till arrested bytrunnion-block T at the second releasing position; but before or afterthe actuation of the trigger member to effect release of the secondhammer the trigger mem ber may be again moved in the direction ofsetting till the detent engages with shoulder m, the slide E havingmeanwhile been returned to its normal forward position. After release ofboth hammers and before actuation of the trigger member in direction ofsetting should the slide E be forced rearward and held by pressure ofthe finger the detent D will be prevented from engaging with theshoulder m, and at the conclusion of the setting movement the triggermember will pass immediately to the second releasing position. Thus thebarrels may be discharged in the normal order of right, left. The rightbarrel may remain undischarged, or they may be fired in the order ofleft, right. In view of the difference in character of the two barrelsof a shotgun, one being for distant objects and the other for closerange, it will i be app arent that it is amatterof great practicalimportance to enablethe.discharge'of either barrel at an instantsnotice.

It will now be seen that it is "a matter of great importance to preventthe forward movement of the trigger member'under the influence of recoilafter releasing the. "second hammer, for if the first or right hammershould be still cocked lug R might contact with lug s in such a manneras ,to raise the latter, and thus efiect premature release.

Even in case the trigger member should in some manner escape forward theface of lug R and the rearface of lug s are so inclined that, as in caseof the other pair of lugs, the force of impact will be directed downwardrather than upward.

'In addition to the safeguards already described a safety device isprovided that abanism against projecting above'the top plate L, and, asinsolutely locks dicated in shifted to the rear of its inoperativeposition,

successively and comprising a reci so that it will engage with theunreduced portion of the lever-arm d to prevent the lifting of detentend cl out of engagement with shoulder m or the elevation of the righthammer-sear.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I' claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with hammeresears, of asingle finger-trigger piece, of mechanism actuated by said fingerstrigger piece to effect'release of said sears rocable member and adetent distinct from t e sears, said detent being arranged Y to engage.said member and to be moved out of engagement thereby under theactuation of the fingertrigger piece, and of setting means for movingthe member in one direction into initial releasing position where it isheld by the detent, said member being movable in the opposite directiontoward second releasing position on disengagement of the detent.

2. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with hammer-sears, ofmechanism for effecting release of said sears successively, comprising areciprocable member and a detent distinct from the sears, of settingmeans for- 'moving said member in one direction into first releasingposition, where it is held by said detent, a singlefinger-triggerpieceartainingly engage with dotted lines in Fig. 1 may be ranged toactuate said member simultane-' ously to move the detent out ofengagement and to bring about first sear release, and means for urgingthe member to travel in the opposite direction toward second releasingposition where it is operable by the fingertrigger piece to releasinglyengage the unreleased sear.

3. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with hammer-sears, of areciprocable member movable in one direction into initial releasingposition and in the opposite direction to enable it to occupy releasingpositions with reference to the sears successively, a detent distinctfrom the sears for retaining the member in initial releasing position,and single manual means for actuating the member to releasingly engagethesears, said member being arranged to disengage the detent under theactuation of said manual means.

4. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with the hammers, ofmechanism vertically movable to bring about release of said hammerssuccessively and comprising a horizontally-reciprocable slide and ahorizontallypivoted detent overlying said slide, said detent having anengaging tip arranged to dehavinga detent-disengaging region arranged onvertical movement of the slide to contact liftingly with the detentbetween pivot and tip, of setting means for moving the slide in theslide and said slide one direction into initial releasing position whereretained by said detent, the slide after disengagement of the detentbeing movable toward second releasing position in a direction oppositeto the setting movement.

5. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with the hammers, ofmechanism vertically movable to bring about hammer release successivelyand comprising a horizontally-reciprocable slide and ahcgizontally-pivoted detent overlying said slide, said detent having anengaging tip arranged to detainingly, engage with the slide and adepending adjustable pin disposedintermediate the pivot and tip,.an'dsaid slide having a'detent-disengaging region arranged on verticalmovement of the slide to contact liftingl'y with said pin, of settingmeans for moving the slide in one direction into initial releasingposition where retained by said detent, the slide afterdisengagement ofthe detent being movable toward second releasing position in thedirection opposite to the setting movement.

6. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with the hammer-sears, of ahorizontallyqeciprocable slide capable of pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis and arranged to cocupy releasing positions withreferenceto said sears successively, a horizontally-pivoted detentoverlyingsaid slide and having an engaging tip, setting means for movingthe slide in one direction into first releasing position, and actuatingmeans arranged to elevate the latter at releasing positions to bringabout sear release, the slide being provided with a shoulder engaged bythe tip of the detent at first releasing position and with adetent-disengaging region located farther from the horizontal axis thansaid shoulder and arranged on vertical movement of the slide to contactliftingly with the detent between pivot and tip, the slide afterdisengagement of the detent being arranged to move to secondreleasingposition in the direction opposite to the setting movement.

7. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of a member adapted tooccupy releasing positions successively, a detent, setting means formoving said member in one direction into first releasing position whereit is held by said detent, actuating means operative at releasingpositions to elevate said member to bring about hammer release and alsooperative at first releasing position to disengage said detent, meansfor urging said member to travel in the direction opposite to thesetting movement toward second releasing position, and means carried bythe detent operative during the elevation of the memher at firstreleasing position to prevent said member assuming secondreleasingposition.

8. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of ahorizontally-reciprocable slide movable in one direction into firstreleasing position and in the opposite direction into second releasingposition, a horizontally-pivoted detent overlying said slide and havingan engaging tip arranged automatically to engage and detain the slide atfirst releasing position, actuating means arranged to elevate the sameat releasing positions to bring about hammer release,'said slide beingprovided with a detent-disengaging region arranged to contactliftinglywith the detent between pivot and tip during elevation at firstreleasing position, and a stop depending from the detent and arranged toarrest the slide in advance of second releasing position during suchelevation.

9. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of ahorizontally-reciprocable slide movable in one direction into firstreleasing position and in the opposite direction into second releasingposition, a horizontally-pivoted detent overlying said slide and havingan engaging -tip arranged automatically to engage and detain the slideat first releasing position, actuating means arranged to elevate thesame at releasing positions to bring about hammer release, said slidebeing provided with a detent-disengaging region arranged to contactliftingly with the detent between pivot and tip during elevation atfirst releasing position, and an adjustable pin depending from thedetent and arranged to arrest the slide in advance of second releasingposition during such elevation.

10. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of ahorizontally-reciprocable slide movable in one direction into firstreleasing position and in the opposite. direction into second releasingposition, a horizontallypivoted detent overlyingsaid slide and-having anengaging tip arranged to automatically engage and detain said slide atfirst releasing position, actuating means arranged to elevate the sameat releasing ositions to bring about hammer release, sai slide beingprovided with. a detent-disengaging region arranged to contact liftinglywith the detent between pivot and tip during elevation at firstreleasing position, and a stop depending from the detent and arranged toarrest the slide in advance of second releasing position during suchelevation, said slide belng provided on its upper surface with a recessto receive said stop during elevation at second releasing positlon.

11. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of ahorlzontallyreciprocable slide movable in one direction into firstreleasing position and in the opposite direction into second releasingposition, a horizontallypivoted detent overlying said slide and havingan engaging tip arranged to automatically engage and detain the slide atfirst releasin osition, said detent being further provi ed between pivotand tip with a longitudinally-disposed pair of depending adjustablepins, and actuating means arranged to elevate the same at releasingositions to bring about hammer release, sai slide being provided with adetent-disengaging region arranged during elevation at first releaslngosition to contact with the bottom of the st pin to disengage the detentand then with the side of the second pin to arrest the slide temporarilyin advance of second releasing position.

12. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of ahorizontally-reciprocable slide movable in one direction into firstreleasing position and in the opposite direction into second releasingposition, a horizontallypivoted detent overlying said slide and havlngan engaging tip arranged to automatically engage and detain the slide atfirst releasing osition, said detent being further provided betweenpivot and tip wlth a depending adjustable pin and between pivot and pinwith a depending stop, and actuating means for elevating the slide atreleasing positions to bring about hammer release,

said slide being provided with a detent-disengaging region arrangedduring elevation at first releasing position to contact liftingly withsaid pin, the slide being then temporarily arrested by the stop inadvance of second releasing position.

13. In a double-barrelgun, the combination with hammer sears providedwith projections raisable to efiect hammer release, of

mechanism for eflecting release of said sears successively including areci rocable member provided with a releasingug, said member beingmovable in one direction to positionsaid lug in advance of theprojection on the second released sear and inthe 0p osite direction tobring said lug beneath sai sear' projection without engagementtherewith, the opposed faces of the lug and sear end transverse to thepath of movement being formed on an inclination to tend to depress thesear in event of engagement during the release positioning movement.

14. In a double-barrel gun, the combination with hammer sears rovidedwith projections raisable to effect ammer release, of mecha'nismforeffecting release of said sears successively including a reci rocablemember provided With a releasingug, said member being movable in onedirection to position said lug beneath the rojection on thefirst-released sear and in tffe opposite direction to position said lugin rear of said sear projection, the opposed faces of the lug and searend transverse to the path of movement being formed on inclination totend to depress the sear in event of engagement under the influence ofrecoil. a

15. In a singletrigger mechanism, the combination with a slide havin ashoulder on its upper surface and movab e in one direction into firstreleasingposition and in the return dlrectlon lnto second releasingposition, actuating means for causing said member to bring about hammerrelease at releasing ositions, an automatic detent arranged to etainin1y en age with the shoulder on the slide at rst re easing position, a inassing up through the slide behind said s hou der, and manually-operatedmeans for elevating said pin to lift the detent out of engagement.

16. In a single trigger mechanism, the combination of a slide having ashoulder on its up ersurface and movable from first'to secon releasingpositions and return to first releasing position, actuating means forcausing said member to bring about hammer release at releasing ositions,an automatic detent arranged to etainingly engage with the shoulder onthe slide at first releasing position, a pin passing up through theslide behind sald shoulder, and a manually-operated slide having aninclined surface for receiving and elevating said pin to lift the detentout of engagement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. RUSS.

Witnesses V. F. BRANDENBURG, E. T. BRANDENBURG.

